Modi bids farewell to Gujarat Assembly

Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi on Wednesday bid farewell to the Gujarat Assembly after serving as the State's chief minister for 12 consecutive years.

Delivering an emotional and nostalgic address, the four-time Chief Minister thanked the legislators for their support, including the Opposition for its constructive criticism.

"I have a big responsibility ahead. Your wishes give me inspiration and strength. This is my fourth term as [chief minister]. I have learnt a lot in this house. One may get fame and countless tributes from everywhere, but when one's own people honour you it has a different meaning," Mr. Modi said.

Modi also reached out to the Opposition, praising former chief minister and senior Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela, saying "Though we shared a thick friendship at a personal level, Mr. Vaghela performed his duty when he was in the Opposition. We all have to fulfil our duty."

Modi said that his job ahead reflected the time when he took over Gujaratwhen it was rocked by an earthquake, battered by cyclones and the urban cooperative banks were in the doldrums.

"Today the world is asking what this development model of Gujarat is. Modi's success lies not in bringing development to Gujarat, but in continuing the development journey despite his absence. Gujarat will progress more rapidly," he said.

The PM-in-waiting stressed on the need to build strong and effective institutions and systems to deliver good governance.

"Ideas should be institutionalised so that people can come and go, but systems go on and respond automatically. After independence, India built many good institutions, but they fell in a State of ruin. In Gujarat, we made efforts to strengthen institutions," Modi said.

Modi received a resounding applause from the House, while leaders, including Vaghela and former chief minister Keshubhai Patel presented Modi with shawls.